Two weeks ago, the Izzy IZ-8225 air fryer arrived in my kitchen, which was recently released, and of course, I immediately started cooking to get to know it! So, let's see my evaluation of Izzy's new proposal for an air fryer with a very large basket!
First impression
The Izzy IZ-8225 is a large device, perhaps the largest air fryer I have seen up close. Opening the box, we find the device inside, with the huge 10-liter basket. It has a divider so that the basket can be converted into two smaller ones of 5 liters each for independent cooking, and a removable grill at the bottom. Both have silicone feet to fit properly. The dimensions of the basket inside are 33x23cm and the height is 11cm.
Inside, there are two heating elements, one for each basket, with a total power of 2600 Watts. The times and temperatures can be adjusted independently, but of course, it can also be used as a whole for larger quantities or large ingredients, such as a whole chicken or baking dishes.
The basket has windows on each side so you can monitor the inside, as well as a separate light for each.
In the front, the large touch screen dominates. There are 8 preset programs for convenience, screens for time and temperature for each side, and two large buttons for the Smart Finish and Match Cook options.
What do these options do? With Smart Finish, the cooking on both sides is synchronized so that they finish at the same time, provided they have different cooking times, while with Match Cook, the whole basket functions as a whole (or with the divider for two foods that require the same cooking), with both heating elements reaching the same temperature and time.
The temperature can be adjusted from 80 to 200°C, and the maximum time that can be set is 60 minutes. With the Izzy IZ-8225 air fryer, you can also dehydrate fruits.
The cable is 1 meter long and can be wrapped around the two hooks at the back for easy storage and transportation.
Together with the air fryer, the user manual is included, as well as a booklet with recipes and suggestions, and 30 disposable non-stick paper discs.
Tests
As always, the tests included cooking various different ingredients, in order to have a complete picture of its capabilities and results.
It goes without saying that the final result always depends on the size and quantity of each ingredient and the desired cooking level, so the times mentioned in recipes or in the user manual are indicative. Before each use, I preheated the air fryer using the default program for about 10 minutes.
The Izzy IZ-8225 air fryer performed very well in all cooking tests, and the user experience was flawless.
Steaks and chicken:
To cover the whole range of meats, I cooked chicken breast, pork steaks, and beef fillet. By adjusting the cooking times to my personal preference, the result was properly cooked meat, juicy on the inside, in all cases.
French fries:
Thin frozen fries were ready in 20 minutes at 180 degrees, with the addition of a little olive oil or vegetable oil, crispy and golden.
Fresh fries with the same preparation required a little more time and temperature, 25-30 minutes (depending on the thickness) at 190 degrees, also crispy and golden.
Grilled vegetables:
A new favorite combination for vegetable side dishes with some meat or even on their own is broccoli, sweet potato, and zucchini. Here, a little attention and plenty of oil were needed to prevent the broccoli from burning, but after 2-3 tries all the vegetables came out baked and soft.
Salmon fillet:
Salmon fillet is delicate and requires careful attention to prevent it from drying out or breaking. Cooked at 180 degrees for 7-8 minutes using the parchment paper-lined baking trays that came with the packaging, it turned out nice and juicy.
Burgers:
After a little experimentation, 6 large and thick beef burgers were cooked properly at 180 degrees for 40 minutes, 20 on each side. They came out nicely caramelized on the outside and sufficiently cooked on the inside.
As usual, I also tried other ingredients such as breaded chicken nuggets, frozen puff pastries, sausages, all with success.
I should mention that during operation, the noise produced is quite low and discreet, something that I will put in the positive aspects, as it is important for some people.
The only somewhat negative aspect I find in the whole user experience is that unlike single baskets or models with 2 separate baskets, you essentially lose the ability to mix the ingredients in the middle of cooking, such as with fried potatoes for example, if you are cooking simultaneously. The food in the second basket will inevitably move, so stirring must be done with tongs.
Final Impressions
So let's summarize: The Izzy IZ-8225 air fryer cooks as it should, has a huge basket that can be divided, and is priced around 150€, a fairly satisfactory price compared to models with similar characteristics and more.
Is it for you? If you want an air fryer with a very large basket for a family of 3-4 people or you want to have plenty of space for your cooking creations, then yes.
It likely has one of the largest single baskets on the market and gives you the ability to divide it. For me, this is a big yes.
Of course, as I always say, such large baskets may make it difficult for those with small sinks to wash. Even in the dishwasher, it will take up a lot of space. I'm not saying this as a negative in any way, it's just something to consider.
